University News

WIU Nursing Grad Helps Expand Psychiatric Services to the Region

September 10, 2018

MACOMB, IL – A Western Illinois University alumna is building the educational foundation she received to help grow a new clinic in Macomb.

The Lakeview Medical and Psychiatric Clinic is opening in Macomb this week with Macomb native and WIU graduate Ashley (Troy) Martin helping build the practice. After graduating from WIU, Martin went on to get two master's degrees, one as a family nurse practitioner at the University of Illinois and the most recent as a psychiatric nurse practitioner from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL.

Lakeview has been a private psychiatric firm for two years, providing traveling services to the mentally disabled.

"We will still see the mentally disabled, but we are expanding the practice to include a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a nurse practitioner and a licensed family and marriage therapist," said Martin. "This will allow us to expand to do therapy, addiction treatment, DUI assessments and group therapy."

In 2012, Martin was among the first classes of nursing students to graduate from WIU.

"At WIU, I had great teachers, who continue to mentor me after I graduated," she said. "You can't get that at most universities."

Another component of the Lakeview expansion is to serve as a clinical site for students in the WIU School of Nursing.

"They will have the opportunity to work with psychiatric testing, counseling and psychological interviews and medications," Martin said.

For Martin, staying in Macomb after her education was never a difficult decision.

"I am from this area and I never wanted to be a big city girl," she said. "The location of our office allows us to offer a unique variety of services that are pretty much not found from Chicago to St. Louis. We want to continue to grow to serve the community's needs."

WIU School of Nursing Director Lea Monahan called Martin an outstanding student who exemplifies the quality of students the program provides.

"She completed our RN-BSN Completion Program and has continued her education for advance nurse practitioner," Monahan said. "We are very pleased to have graduates like Ashley."

Martin also serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Warren and McDonough Counties and on the board of the Colchester Area Relief Effort.